Ph.D., Political Science, Stanford M.A. Political Science, Stanford B.A. Political Science, Union College

Bio

Jennifer L. Lawless graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York, with a B.A. in political science. She went on to receive an M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University. Her research focuses on political ambition, and she is the author of Women on the Run: Gender, Media, and Political Campaigns in a Polarized Era (with Danny Hayes), Running from Office: Why Young Americans Are Turned Off to Politics (with Richard L. Fox), and Becoming a Candidate: Political Ambition and the Decision to Run for Office. She is also a nationally recognized expert on women and politics, and the co-author (with Richard L. Fox) of It Still Takes a Candidate: Why Women Don't Run for Office. Her research, which has been supported by the National Science Foundation, has appeared in numerous academic journals. In addition, she has issued several policy reports on the barriers that impede women’s candidate emergence.

Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities

Selected Publications

Hayes, Danny and Jennifer L. Lawless. 2016. Women on the Run: Gender, Media, and Political Campaigns in a Polarized Era. New York: Cambridge University Press (available in Spring 2016).

Lawless, Jennifer L. and Richard L. Fox. 2015. Running From Office:Why Young Americans are Turned Off to Politics. New York: Oxford University Press.

Lawless, Jennifer L. (2012) Becoming A Candidate: Political Ambition and the Decision to Run for Office, New York: Cambridge University Press.

Lawless, Jennifer L. and Richard L. Fox. (2010) It Still Takes A Candidate: Why Women Don’t Run for Office, New York: Cambridge University Press.

Lawless, Jennifer L. and Richard L. Fox. (2005) It Takes A Candidate: Why Women Don’t Run for Office, New York: Cambridge University Press.

Chapters in Books:

Hayes, Danny and Jennifer L. Lawless. 2016. News as a Casualty: District Polarization and Media Coverage of U.S. House Campaigns. In James Thurber and Antoine Yoshinaka (eds.) American Gridlock: Causes, Characteristics, and Consequences of Polarization, New York: Cambridge University Press: forthcoming.

Lawless, Jennifer L. (2015) Women Running for Office, In Robert A. Scott and Stephen M. Kosslyn (eds.) Emerging Trends in the Behavioral and Social Sciences, San Francisco: Wiley, forthcoming.

Brody, Richard A. and Jennifer L. Lawless. (2003) Political Ideology in the United States: Conservatism and Liberalism in the 1980s and 1990s, In R. Schultze, R. Strom, and D. Eberle (eds.) Conservative Parties and Right-Wing Politics in North America, Opladen: Leske and Budrich: pages 53-77.

Hayes, Danny, Jennifer L. Lawless, and Gail Baitinger. (2014) Who Cares What They Wear? Media, Gender, and the Influence of Candidate Appearance, Social Science Quarterly 95(5):1194-1212.

Fox, Richard L. and Jennifer L. Lawless (2014) Uncovering the Origins of the Gender Gap in Political Ambition, American Political Science Review 108(3):499-519.

Fox, Richard L. and Jennifer L. Lawless. (2014) Reconciling Family Roles with Political Ambition: The New Normal for Women in 21st Century U.S. Politics, Journal of Politics 76(2):398-414.

Fox, Richard L. and Jennifer L. Lawless. (2011) Gains and Losses in Interest in Running for Office: The Concept of Dynamic Political Ambition, Journal of Politics 73(2):443-62.

Fox, Richard L. and Jennifer L. Lawless. (2011) Gendered Perceptions and Political Candidacies: A Central Barrier to Women’s Equality in Electoral Politics, American Journal of Political Science 55(1):59-73.

Fox, Richard L. and Jennifer L. Lawless. (2010) If Only They’d Ask: Gender, Recruitment, and Political Ambition, Journal of Politics72(2):310-36.

Fowler, Linda and Jennifer L. Lawless. (2009) Looking for Sex in All the Wrong Places: Press Coverage and the Electoral Fortunes of Gubernatorial Candidates, Perspectives 7(3):519-36.

Fox, Richard L. and Jennifer L. Lawless. (2004) Entering the Arena? Gender and the Decision to Run for Office, American Journal of Political Science 48(2):264-80 (Reprinted in Sarah Childs and Mona Lena Krook (eds.), Women, Gender, and Politics: A Reader, New York: Oxford: Chapter 17.)

Lawless, Jennifer L. (2004) Politics of Presence: Women in the House and Symbolic Representation, Political Research Quarterly 53(1):81-99.

Lawless, Jennifer L. (2010) It Was No Year of the Woman, CNN.com, November 3.

Lawless, Jennifer L. (2010) Not the Year of the Woman, Slate.com, November 3.

Lawless, Jennifer L. (2010) Is It Really a Great Year for Women in Politics? Slate.com, November 2.

Lawless, Jennifer L. (2010) Vote Not New Dawn for Women in Politics, CNN.com, June 9.

In Progress:

Lawless, Jennifer L. and Richard L. Fox. Women and Men in U.S. Politics. Under contract with Norton (final manuscript to be submitted by August 2017, with a release in Summer 2018).

Media Appearances

Appeared in Miss Representation (a 2011film that exposes how the mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network).

Multimedia

Professional Presentations

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

2014. News as a Casualty: District Polarization and Media Coverage of U.S. House Campaigns, paper presented at the American Gridlock: Causes, Characteristics, and Consequences of Polarization Conference, Washington, DC: May 9.

2014. Present or Absent? (Re-)Evaluating the Role of Gender Stereotyping in Contemporary Campaigns and Elections, roundtable participant at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago: April 3 – 6.

2014. How Uncompetitive Elections and Media Consolidation Impoverish the News and Diminish Democracy, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago: April 3 – 6.

2014. Uncovering the Origins of the Gender Gap in Political Ambition, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago: April 3 – 6.

2014. A Non-Gendered Lens: The Absence of Gender Stereotyping in Contemporary Congressional Elections, paper presented at the winter meeting of the National Capital Area Political Science Association’s American Politics Workshop, Washington, DC: January 7.

2013. Understanding the Origins of the Gender Gap in Political Ambition, paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Chicago: August 29 – September 1.

2013. A Non-Gendered Lens: The Absence of Gender Stereotyping in Contemporary Congressional Elections, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago: April 11 – 14.

2013. Girls Just Wanna Not Run: The Gender Gap in Young Americans’ Political Ambition, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago: April 11 – 14.

2013. A Non-Gendered Lens: The Absence of Gender Stereotyping in Contemporary Congressional Elections, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Political Science Association, Orlando: January 3 – 6.

2012. Reconciling Family Roles with Political Ambition: The New Normal for Women in 21st Century Politics, paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, New Orleans: August 30 – September 2. (Conference Canceled.)

2012. Is there Fire in the Belly? Gender, Competitive Traits, and Political Ambition, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago: April 12 – 15.

2012. Women Politicians and the News: A Discussion of New Research, roundtable participant at the annual meeting of the Western Political Science Association, Portland: March 22 – 25.

2011. Lawless, Jennifer L. and Richard L. Fox. Barefoot and Pregnant, or Ready to Be President: Gender, Family Roles, and Political Ambition in the 21st Century, paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association: Seattle: September 1 – 4.

2011. Lawless, Jennifer L. and Richard L. Fox. Barefoot and Pregnant, or Ready to Be President: Gender, Family Roles and Political Ambition in the 21st Century, paper presented at the DC-Area American Politics Workshop, Washington, DC: June 21.

2011. The Intersection of Traditional Family Roles and Political Ambition: A Re-Evaluation, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association: Chicago: March 31 – April 2.

2010. Gendered Perceptions and Political Candidacies: A Central Barrier to Women’s Equality in Electoral Politics, paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Washington, DC: September 1 – 4.

2010. Envisioning a Candidacy: Gender and Self-Efficacy to Run for Office, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago: April 17 – 20.

2009. The Qualifications Gap: Explaining Women’s Lower Levels of Political Ambition, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago: April 4 – 6.

2008. If Only They’d Ask: Gender, Recruitment, and Political Ambition, paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Boston, September 1 – 3.

2008. The Evolution of Political Ambition, Roundtable on the Citizen Political Ambition Study Wave II, annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, April 7 – 9.

2008. The Persistent Gender Gap in Political Ambition, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Political Science Association, San Diego, March 20 – 22.

2008. Congressional Primaries and Party Polarization, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Political Science Association, New Orleans: January 10 – 12.

2007. Congressional Primaries and Party Polarization in the U.S. House of Representatives, 1992 – 2006, paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Chicago, August 29 – September 1.

2007. The Primary Aspect of the Problem: Congressional Primaries and Women’s Under-Representation, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, April 14 – 17.

2006. Gender, Congressional Primaries, and Women’s Under-Representation, paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Philadelphia, September 1 – 4.

2006. The Primary Reason for Women’s Under-Representation: Gender and Congressional Elections, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, April 18 – 20.

2005. Race and Political Ambition, paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Washington, DC, September 1 – 4.

2005. Race and the Initial Decision to Run for Office: Racial Dynamics and Differences in Candidate Emergence, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, April 7 – 10.

2004. The Formation of Ideological Self-Designation: Political Sophistication and Policy Preferences of Ordinary Citizens, paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Chicago, September 2 – 5.

2004. Nascent Ambition and the Decision Dynamics of Running for Office, paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Chicago, September 2 – 5.

2004. Women, War, and Winning Elections: Gender Stereotyping in the Post-September 11th Era, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, April 15 – 18.

2004. The Initial Run for Office: Decision Dynamics of Entering Electoral Politics, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, April 15 – 18.

2004. Anything She Can Do, He Can Do Better? Gender Stereotyping in the Post September 11th Era, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Political Science Association, New Orleans, January 8 – 10.

2003. Political Ideology in the United States: Conservatism and Liberalism in the 1980s and 1990s, paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Philadelphia, August 28 – September 1.

2003. The Gender Gap in Candidate Emergence: Sex Differences in Political Ambition, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, April 3 – 6.

2003. Will She Stay or Will She Go? Women’s Retirement from the U.S. Congress, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, April 3 – 6.

2002. The Impact of Sex Role Socialization on the Decision to Run for Office, paper to be presented at the annual meeting of the Southern Political Science Association, Savannah, November 7 – 9.

2002. Entering the Arena: Gender and the Initial Decision to Run for Office, paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Boston, August 29 – September 2.

2002. Political Ideology in the United States: Conservatism and Liberalism in the 1980s and 1990s, paper presented at the Conference on Conservatism, Augsburg, May 10 – 11.

2002. Politics of Presence: Women in the House and Symbolic Representation, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, April 24 – 26.

2001. Women’s Presence in the House: Constituent Level Benefits of Symbolic Representation, paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, San Francisco, August 29 – September 2.

2001. Gender and the Decision to Run for Office: A Pilot Study in New York, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Political Science Association, Las Vegas, March 15 – 17.

2000. Political Participation Among the Urban Poor, paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Political Science Association, San Jose, March 24 – 26.

1997. What is Political? Kenyan Conceptions of Political Thought, Interest, Government Problems and Priorities, paper presented at the annual meeting of the New York State Political Science Association, New York, April 18 – 20.

INVITED LECTURES AND PRESENTATIONS

Invited Lectures (Academic):

University of Iowa (Political Science Department and School of Public Policy), “The Gender Gap in Political Ambition, or Why Women and Girls Just Wanna Not Run,” April 18, 2014.

Brigham Young University (Department of Political Science), Provo, UT, “Uncovering the Origins of the Gender Gap in Political Ambition,” February 6, 2014.

Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, “Uncovering the Origins of the Gender Gap in Political Ambition,” November 14, 2013.

Duke University (Department of Political Science), Durham, NC, “Uncovering the Origins of the Gender Gap in Political Ambition,” October 30, 2013.

University of Maryland (Department of Political Science), College Park, MD, “A Non-Gendered Lens: The Absence of Stereotyping in Contemporary Congressional Elections,” April 26, 2013.

University of Texas (Department of Government), Austin, TX, “A Non-Gendered Lens: The Absence of Stereotyping in Contemporary Congressional Elections,” February 21, 2013.

U.S. State Department, “Women in U.S. Politics: Voters, Candidates, and Elected Officials,” Lectures at Leiden University, University of Amsterdam, and Groningen University, Netherlands, October 18 – 19, 2004.

Asia Foundation, “Women and the 2004 Election,” September 23, 2004.

Research Interests

AU Expert

Area of Expertise

Additional Information

Jennifer L. Lawless focuses on gender politics, electoral politics, and public opinion. She has published numerous articles in academic journals, such as the American Journal of Political Science, Political Research Quarterly, Legislative Studies Quarterly, and Journal of Politics and Politics & Gender and Perspectives. Lawless is the author of Becoming A Candidate: Political Ambition and the Decision to Run for Office (Cambridge University Press and the lead author of It Still Takes a Candidate: Why Women Don't Run for Office (Cambridge University Press, 2010). Lawless is author of two recent Brookings Institution papers Not a ‘Year of the Woman’...and 2036 Doesn’t Look So Good Either(Brookings Nov. 2014) and It’s the Family, Stupid? Not Quite...How Traditional Gender Roles Do Not Affect Women’s Political Ambition(Brookings, July 2014). She also coauthored a Brookings Institution policy report used by various women’s groups and state party organizations to help promote and recruit women candidates. Currently, she serves as the editor of Politics & Gender. She is a coauthor of Women on the Run: Gender, Media, and Political Campaigns in the Polarized Era. A recognized speaker on the subject of electoral politics, Lawless frequently discusses these issues on national and local television and radio outlets. Her scholarly analysis and political commentary have been quoted in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New Republic, Chronicle of Higher Education, Boston Globe, Pittsburgh-Gazette, Seattle Times, Hartford Courant, Providence Journal, Associated Press Newswire, and Today Showand Reuters, CNN.com, MSNBC.com, and FOXNews.com, Huffington Post, Politico, and CBSNews.com. In 2006, she sought the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives in Rhode Island’s second congressional district. Although she lost the race, she is still very active in politics, most recently joining the national board of Emerge America